Today's news summary, Nov. 27, 2013

The American Red Cross and the president of the United States honored a Town of Poughkeepsie teen this morning who helped sustain the life of a local man by administering CPR when he collapsed in a parking lot earlier this year. Ashlynn Mohan, 18, was presented with the American Red Cross Health & Safety Services Lifesaving Award Certificate of Merit signed by Barack Obama, at the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross on Hooker Avenue in the City of Poughkeepsie. Mohan performed CPR on Alvin Hart, 69, Feb. 4. He died five days later, but his family members said they had an opportunity to say goodbye because of her actions. Mohan learned CPR in a 2011 lifeguarding class taught by Mary Fredrickson, a Red Cross Instructor, according to Jaime Watson, director of communications for the Northeastern New York division of the Red Cross. Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Rob Rolison, R-Poughkeepsie, who previously worked as Director of Development for the local Red Cross, read the proclamation and presented the award.

Prosecutors today called their final witness in the trial of Justin Curran, the man accused of killing 67-year-old Laurie Ferguson on Nov. 21, 2012. Curran, 37, is alleged to have stabbed Ferguson to death inside her trailer at the Mobile Manor Trailer Park in Staatsburg. He was her neighbor. Prosecutors today called Frank Padula, a forensic investigator and trace evidence specialist for the state police for eight years, he said. He was asked to verify testing he had done on a pair of dark-green cargo pants during Ferguson's murder investigation. His colleague, Kristine Robinson, testified on Tuesday that those same pants had Ferguson's DNA on them. During his testimony, Padula was asked about two white stains found on the cargo pants. One stain, he said, was from a mint. The bulk of the second stain was calcium carbonate, the same chemical compound found in Soft Scrub. Prosecutors allege Soft Scrub was used in attempt to clean blood from Ferguson's trailer after her murder. County Court is closed until Monday for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The trial will resume with closing arguments on Monday.

The Dutchess County health department has unveiled a new resource for residents who want to learn more about their drinking water. The site, unveiled today, specifies who is responsible for water supplies, where residents can go to find additional data and other resources. "Safe drinking water is a fundamental human need and we all share in the responsibility to be informed about the water we drink," Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro said in a statement. "It is important that residents have the resources to understand what agencies and resources are involved in water quality monitoring and how they can assess a wide range of data and information." The county health department oversees nearly 700 state and federally designated public water supplies. These include municipal systems, residential public supplies, hotels, schools and restaurants. In June, an exclusive Poughkeepsie Journal analysis found Dutchess had the most federally designated water systems of any county in the state and the fifth-highest total in the nation. The site includes information on how the county monitors public water supplies, what private well owners should know and links to resources both within the county and on state and federal websites. "This new resource offers a quick and easy way for residents to learn who is responsible for various aspects of water quality monitoring and where they can get more information about their drinking water supply," Dr. Kari Reiber, the county's acting health commissioner, said in a statement. The website also provides links to data collected from three southern Dutchess towns that passed laws mandating tests of private wells whenever a home is sold.

Local law enforcement agencies will be setting up sobriety checkpoints to prevent drunk driving this week for Thanksgiving, the state Department of Motor Vehicles announced. The Special Traffic and Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated warned motorists that local law enforcement agencies will also be cracking down on drivers impaired by prescription and illegal drugs, along with alcohol this week until Dec. 1. The effort includes the "Operation Hang Up" initiative, which utilizes Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles to locate drivers talking or texting on cell phones. "State troopers will be out in full force this holiday weekend - manning checkpoints and making sure motorists are complying with the law to keep travelers safe," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. On Nov. 1, a stronger Leandra's Law went into effect that requires convicted drunk drivers to install an ignition interlock on their vehicle. First-time offenders found driving while intoxicated or impaired by drugs or alcohol with children under the age of 16 can be charged with a class E felony and can be sentenced with up to four years in prison. In 2012, there were 8,633 alcohol-related crashes in the state that resulted in 358 fatalities and 6,303 injured, the Department of Motor Vehicles reported. During the last "Operation Hang-Up" in 2013, troopers issued more than 2,900 tickets for phone and texting violations, Cuomo said. In May, Cuomo administratively increased the penalty from three to five points on a license for texting.

A Hyde Park woman allegedly stole three vehicles in about a week, Hyde Park police said. Suzanne L. McGuire, 50, is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and third-degree unauthorized used of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, police said. Police first encountered McGuire on Nov. 23 around 8:53 p.m. Police said her mother called police stating that McGuire took her vehicle without her permission. McGuire was located, charged with unauthorized use and released on an appearance ticket, police said. She then allegedly left and stole another vehicle from the Mobil gas station on Violet Avenue, police said. Town of Poughkeepsie police later found her at the same location that she brought her mother's car. While in custody, McGuire admitted she stole a third vehicle on Nov. 17 in the City of Poughkeepsie. McGuire was arraigned and sent to Dutchess County Jail on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. She could face additional charges in the City of Poughkeepsie, police said. She's due in court on Dec. 10, police said.

SPORTSThree AAU girls basketball teammates from three different high schools all earned scholarships to play the sport in college. In Thursday's Journal, read about where Beacon's Talah Hughes, Red Hook's Julianne Wilkinson and Pawling's Erin Waters will be spending next season, and how playing together helped them along the way.

The New York Yankees are back to their old tricks, opening the wallet to sign catcher Brian McCann for next season. But how much will the Yankees continue to spend? In Thursday's Journal, Yankees beat writer Chad Jennings discusses the team's path forward

COMING THURSDAYCheck out Ralph Ferrusi's Hike of the Week column as he looks back at the places he's visited in his time as a hiking columnist. Also, visit www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/players to see an interactive of Ferrusi's favorite hikes with his original columns and photo galleries.

WEATHERFor tonight, chance of rain and snow before 11 p.m. and a slight chance of snow between 11 p.m. and 3 p.m., low around 25, according to the National Weather Service. For Thanksgiving Day, mostly sunny with a high near 30.

To read the complete versions of these stories, click "Top News" in the navigation of your tablet site, iPhone or Android app or the Journal's mobile site, m.poughkeepsiejournal.com. You can also visit www.PoughkeepsieJournal.com.

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Today's news summary, Nov. 27, 2013

The American Red Cross and the president of the United States honored a Town of Poughkeepsie teen and prosecutors today called their final witness in the trial of Justin Curran, the man accused of